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Dukes County Board May Skip Job Search

Commissioners Agree to Meet Again With Their Runner-Up Candidate for
County Manager Position

By ALEXIS TONTI

At a special meeting held Tuesday night, the Dukes County
commissioners voted to invite E. Winn Davis, who with Laurie Perry had
been selected as a finalist for county manager, back to the Island to
discuss the position.

The commissioners last week voted to rescind Ms. Perry's job
offer and to ask the selection committee to reconvene to find three
qualified candidates.

"We went through a long and arduous and painstaking process to
come up with candidates who we felt could fill the position
admirably," Ms. Allen said. "I have polled all the members
of the search committee, and without exception they feel as though we
should give Mr. Winn Davis consideration."

Mrs. Wasserman warned that it would be time-consuming and expensive
to readvertise the job, and reminded the commission that the final two
candidates had been presented to them as being of equal weight.

"The more I think about it, it's the appropriate
step," said commissioner Roger Wey, who made a motion to invite
Mr. Davis back to interview for the job.

Mr. Wey later added: "My intent is to bring him back and
ultimately, if further discussion with Mr. Davis feels comfortable,
offer him the job."

Mr. Davis is the executive secretary of the town of Hanson, a job
characterized on his resume as being the chief administrative official.
His past record of municipal service includes a three-year tenure as the
assistant town manager of Provincetown; three years as a senior regional
planner to Franklin, Norfolk and Wrentham, and time spent as a town
planner in Falmouth.

Mr. Davis was graduated from Northeastern University with a master
of public administration degree; from Harvard Graduate School of Design
with a master of city planning degree, and from Boston University School
of Law with a doctor of law degree.

Commissioner Nelson Smith, who had spoken with Mr. Davis, said at
the meeting that Mr. Davis was interested in discussing employment but
did not want to rehash the full interview process.

Following a discussion as to whether the county should be concerned
about a manager who would have to commute to the Island, the commission
unanimously passed Mr. Wey's motion. A meeting with Mr. Davis has
not yet been scheduled.

Acting manager Dianne Powers, who said last week that she would not
serve in the interim position through another extended search process,
agreed to stay until the commissioners made a decision regarding Mr.
Davis.